Worst air pollution Northern Quarter - Manchester, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Northern Quarter is fair. AQI, NO2, and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 33.9/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Northern Quarter is fair. NO2 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 21.4/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
Get the full experience in the Airmine app.
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
Follow your pollen exposure and performance with the free Airmine–Strava integration. See your pollen and air quality exposure for every Strava activity.
Being part of Manchester, Northern Quarter sees an air quality profile that's largely down to traffic and general town-centre activity. Light prevailing breezes tend to disperse pollutants reasonably well, keeping readings close to typical UK small-town levels. Traffic on the M62 is the most significant local emissions source, especially at peak times.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Fair
33.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
8.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
29.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
33.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
6.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
9.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Fair
21.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
5.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
10.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
21.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.9/100
Other Landmarks in Manchester
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Northern Quarter right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Northern Quarter is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 33.9/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 33.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Northern Quarter?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Northern Quarter will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 21.4/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 21.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Northern Quarter?
You can roughly predict Northern Quarter's air quality just by knowing the time of year. Through the colder months, readings near the M62 often rise, since chimney smoke and stagnant air stop pollutants clearing away. Summer brings a different issue — stronger sunlight can push up ozone levels on hot, sunny days, even though traffic pollution itself often disperses more easily. The shoulder seasons generally bring the mildest readings of the year.
Are air quality levels in Northern Quarter based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?
Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.
During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.
Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in United Kingdom?
Check air quality in other popular cities:
Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.
Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.
Get the full experience in the Airmine app.